Change your clocks, change your batteries!

07-Mar-2018

The Saint John Fire Department reminds you when changing your clocks this weekend, to make another change which could save lives. The “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” campaign urges all home owners, landlords, and tenants to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) detector batteries when changing clocks to spring ahead to daylight saving time, which takes place this year on Sunday, March 11, 2018.

The main reason for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors not working is usually due to batteries missing, disconnected or dead batteries. The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping. Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can give your family the extra seconds you need to get out of a home safely.

Follow these tips to help keep your family safe:

Change Your Batteries! Replace old batteries with fresh, high quality batteries to keep your smoke alarms and CO alarms ready to protect you all year-long. Test your emergency flashlights as well to make sure they work when you need them, and replace the batteries if required.

Check Your Alarms! After inserting fresh batteries, make sure alarms are working by activating the safety test button. The fire department recommends testing alarms at least once each month.

Place Your Alarms Appropriately! A properly functioning smoke alarm should be placed in every sleeping room and in the hallway directly adjacent to those rooms. Smoke alarms should be located on each level of your home. CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.

Move to a Fresh Air Location! If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel declare that it is safe to re-enter the home.

Practice your home escape plans with your children! Children can become scared and confused when a fire erupts, increasing their risk of injury or death. Practicing the escape plan will make help them recognize the sound of the smoke alarm and remember how to get out of the house. Create at least two different escape routes from every room and practice them with the entire family.